A sense of inevitability looms over the Millennium ­Stadium ahead of the visit of the all‑conquering All Blacks on Saturday.

The Richie McCaw-led world ­champions are eyeing their 20th unbeaten game, last lost to Wales in 1953 and are a staggering 1-14 with bookmakers to win while the odds of a home victory are 11-1.

Any suggestions that New Zealand might be suffering a post-World Cup hangover are wide of the mark although the tag could be levelled at Wales, who have looked poor in the autumn internationals, losing to Argentina and Samoa in subsequent weekends.

But centre Jamie Roberts could hardly be more relaxed as he sits barefooted on a sofa at the Wales team hotel in the build-up and baulks at the suggestion that a win for his side is beyond the realms of possibility.

“You never have no chance,” said Roberts, who has played and lost to the All Blacks on four occasions, with Wales conceding three points to one in the process. “The history books say it will be tough but it’s still 15 men against 15 for 80 minutes. We’re coming up against the best international side to have ever played the game.”

The fixture boasts a rich history and, for Roberts, the prospect of it is more mouth-watering than the annual Six Nations encounter against England. “Wales-England is always a big one for us but the All Blacks are the best side in rugby and it’s bigger,” he said.

Wales have never lacked for critics within their own borders, with fans and pundits alike leading this particular critique after the most recent slump.

“I’ve experienced it before in 2009 after the Grand Slam win in 2008,” said Roberts. “It happens in professional sport, in fact in many walks of life. You get speed bumps and it’s even more accentuated in the public eye. It’s a tough place to be when that happens but you have to go through it to appreciate the good times.”

In the last 12 months there has been no shortage of that. Wales reached last year’s World Cup semi-finals and followed that by being crowned Grand Slam champions.

On Saturday, Roberts renews his partnership in midfield with Jonathan Davies for the first time since defeating France to wrap up a Six Nations clean sweep.

“We work really well together,” said Roberts. “We’re good mates off the pitch and we seem to work well as a unit. I guess it’s that we understand what each other is doing — it’s just one of those things that has come naturally. We’ve played more than 20 times together for Wales and we’re not afraid to shout at each other if things are going wrong or similarly staying silent if things are going well.”

Roberts is hoping for the latter, and Wales will be boosted by the return of head coach Warren Gatland, who missed the two previous matches to focus on his other job as Lions boss. Roberts admitted it was “great to have him back”.

Quite what the Gatland factor can do for the Welsh is unclear but Roberts believes the slump is not down to his absence but the players themselves. He was damning in the post-Pumas verdict and echoed that this week.

“We were well prepared but for whatever reason it didn’t work,” he said. “I can’t quite put my finger on why but we deserved to do some finger pointing as players. Anyway, as soon as you lose a couple of games people point fingers so it’s only natural we do the same. It’s how you get back from it that’s key, that defines a team.”

Following Wales’ last two games of the year, Roberts will turn his attention to his studies. He is approaching the finals of his medical degree. “After these matches are over, I’m going to lock myself away in the library,” he said.

He admits it is daunting to approach the end of 21 years of education, all of which he has done in Cardiff, and the prospect of him uprooting from the city at the end of the season — he has already announced plans to leave the club and French side Racing Metro are thought to be the likely destination.

“I’ve loved studying — that and rugby have bounced well of each other, and I’m not quite sure what I’ll do when the studies are over, play a bit of golf maybe,” said the 26-year-old.

Any medical career will be put on hold until his playing days are over. “Playing rugby and studying is one thing but doing that while being a full-time doctor is not possible,” he said.

Orthopaedics is the favourite career path, unsurprising considering the battering his skeleton has taken in 46 internationals.

As for the club move, he said: “The time seems right to roll the dice. I’ve been in Cardiff for a long time and loved it, but this is a bit now or never.”

Before he vacates the city, Roberts would love to leave his mark on the principality both internationally and at club level. The game against the All Blacks is the ideal chance to do so.